Is There Anything You Can Do for an Elderly Loved One Who Is Prone to Wandering?

Having an elderly loved one suddenly wander off is one of the more frightening things that can happen as a family caregiver. Taking precautions can help to keep this from occurring with your loved one.

Home Care Services Rochester NY – Is There Anything You Can Do for an Elderly Loved One Who Is Prone to Wandering?

Install Special Locks and Alarms

Door alarms and locks can help to stop your loved one from wandering right at the door. There are plenty available that are hidden so that your loved one isn’t able to disable the lock or the alarm. Depending on your loved one’s situation, however, seeing a visible alarm or lock can be a deterrent on its own.

Make Exits Less Noticeable

Aside from making the door difficult to exit, you can also disguise the door and other types of exits. If your loved one doesn’t recognize the door as a way to get out, she may be less likely to try to leave the house when she gets the urge to wander.

Sort out What Inspires Your Loved One to Wander

Many people who wander have dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. These illnesses can cause your loved one to feel triggered to wander. Learning what causes the urge to wander for your loved one can help you to spot those issues and avoid them for your loved one. For some people, not being physically active enough during the day can cause wandering. For others, unmet needs such as hunger or needing the bathroom can cause an urge to wander.

Prepare for Episodes of Wandering

Doing whatever you can to help your loved one avoid wandering is your first course of action. But what happens if she does wander off and you don’t realize it? Make sure that your loved one always has some form of identification on her, whether that’s a card in her pocket or an identification bracelet that includes your contact information. If you’re prepared for being separated from your loved one, you can help to make it easier to reunite with her.

Let other family members and new home care service providers know what to do for your loved one when she wanders and what safety precautions you have in place.

Caring Hearts of Rochester was founded by John Hunt and Kevin Watkins. Kevin and John met when they were in the same Boy Scout Troop in their youth. They chose different career paths before forming Caring Hearts.

Kevin and his wife, Candy, lived in Naples, Florida for 10 years, where three of their four children were born. He was recruited to the insurance industry by a colleague who felt his personality would benefit people with needs. The insurance industry became a big part of their lives. He evaluated peoples’ risks, working with property and casualty, and life products, and later began to underwrite Long Term Care insurance as people were beginning to plan for their futures. He started two agencies, then bought a third. In his last three years before selling his third agency, he was ranked in the top 10%, top 5% & then top 1% nationally out of the more than 12,500 Allstate agencies in the U.S. at the time. Kevin’s success can be accredited to his kind nature and his genuine desire to help individuals and families with their needs. He feels very at home meeting with people and discussing their needs, a trait that has been very helpful in his continued success with Caring Hearts of Rochester. Kevin returned to Rochester in 2006 to introduce their young children to snow and to be closer to his extended family.

After having returned to Rochester from their careers in other states, John and Kevin reconnected. Alzheimer’s had afflicted both of their families, and they had both experienced and witnessed the challenges associated with the role of being a caregiver. Kevin’s and John’s collective experiences complemented their desire to work with families and individuals in need. They founded Caring Hearts of Rochester and have since been able work in a capacity that has become a passion for them. They are both Certified Senior Advisors (CSA), a designation earned through education, study and experience in the Elderly and Geriatric Care Profession. Their number one concern is providing their senior clients with ethical and effective services and products. Caring Hearts of Rochester is associated with numerous local affiliations for the elderly in the Upstate NY area including Lifespan, Eldersource, and the Greater Rochester Area Partnership for the Elderly.

As the co-founders and hands-on managers of Caring Hearts of Rochester, we thank you for this opportunity to tell you about our passion. We are responsible for the services we offer, for the people we hire, for the training they receive, for the quality and reliability of the services our team delivers to you and your loved ones. Give us a call so that we may learn more about you and your needs at (585) 861-CARE(2273)

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